The Chaplain is directly responsible for providing spiritual care and emotional support to patients, families and staff as an outgrowth of the multidisciplinary care team. The Chaplain will also serve as a liaison between community clergy and pastoral care givers and Blanchard Valley Health System. This position is based in the acute care setting and works in collaboration with medical staff, allied health professionals, and administration.

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Duty 1: Provide Spiritual Care and support for patients, families, and staff with primary coverage of Blanchard Valley Hospital and Bluffton Hospital, in inpatient and ambulatory settings. Share on-call coverage with other BVHS Chaplains for 24/7 availability to hospitals, hospice patients, and long-term care settings

Duty 2: Assesses the emotional / spiritual needs of patients and families including psychological issues, adjustment to illness or disability, status of religious / spiritual coping, and provides support, comfort, and appropriate religious rituals to patients during times of illness and/or dying, and their families or other support structures

Duty 3: Participates as an active member of the inpatient interdisciplinary team, Palliative Care Team, and other related care resources for establishing care plans and facilitating transitions across the continuum of care. Collaborates with other clergy or faith traditions to meet the spiritual and psycho-social needs of patients. Facilitates interdisciplinary, patient, and/or family interventions related to significant ethical and legal decisions to manage patient care. Mediates conflicts related to patient care when requested.

Duty 4: Serves on Ethics Committee and other committees of the organization, as well as participation in community outreach, education and programs. Assures that patients’ rights to fair and equitable treatment, self-determination, individuality, privacy, property, and civil rights, including the right to make complaints, are well established and maintained.

Duty 5: Works with local institutions of higher education to train and supervise students in the clinical setting. Arranges for Clinical Pastoral Education clinical placement in BVHS for two students per year (as they are available).

Duty 6: Collaborates with the Blanchard Valley Health Foundation to administer funds and meet the mission of the Spiritual Care Endowment.

·Master of Divinity Degree or related degree from an accredited graduate school, and 4 units of CPE. Board Certification or eligible for endorsement as a Board Certified Chaplain by the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) or the National Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC).

·Ordained or endorsed Minister with Ecclesiastical endorsement

·At least 3 years of hospital based chaplaincy

·Respect for and theological awareness of a wide range of beliefs, including Christian traditions, various World Religions, and understanding of people who claim no faith.

·A valid driver's license is required (if you do not have a valid Ohio driver’s license you must obtain one within one year of your residency in the state) and you must also meet BVHS's company fleet policy requirements

·Individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patient served on his/her assigned unit/department. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient status. Must be able to interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to their age-specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in the area’s policies and procedures

This position requires direct contact with patients with communicable diseases. This position requires a full range of body motion with intermittent walking, lifting, bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting and standing. The associate will be required to walk for up to one hour a day, sit continuously for six hours a day and stand for one hour a day. The individual must have good eye-hand coordination and fine finger dexterity for simple grasping tasks. The individual must have excellent verbal communication skills to perform daily tasks. The associate must have corrected vision and hearing in the normal range. The individual must be able to operate a motor vehicle for business travel and community involvement.

This position is classified at risk for possible occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (HBV, HIV, etc.)